When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

In the past 30 years, light artists have reimagined an art form that has always had the ability to turn the night sky, or a simple window, into luminescence. Last fall, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts turned its southern glass wall into a parade of sound-sensing lights, Lightswarm, that changes with the movements of nearby people and things. Future Cities Lab, the San Francisco design company behind Lightswarm, has originated another notable light sculpture. Located by the YBCA's steps at 701 Mission, Murmur Wall will light up in arresting ways as it incorporates local trending search engine results and social media postings. Onlookers can offer their own contributions, which will feed into the Murmur Wall's data stream and light up the sculpture. What's trending in San Francisco? If you're walking by the YBCA, you can see firsthand — at least through light patterns that reflect the city's volatile internet habits.
Murmur Wall debuts Thursday at 6 p.m. and continues through May 31, 2017, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. Free; 415-978-2700 or ybca.org. More

Share

Latest in Best Of

An inconspicuous doorway off Valencia Street leads to a treasure trove of zines and 10,000-plus hours of sound and video recordings from the 1960s to the 1990s, all charting the progressive history of the Bay and its effect on global radical movements.

Monday, October 29, 2012

An Alameda County jury has found Giselle Esteban guilty of the 2011 murder of 26-year-old Michelle Le, concluding it wasn't a crime of passion.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley expressed her relief at the jury's verdict, which was reached in less than five days.

"I am pleased the perpetrator of this heinous, calculated crime has been brought to justice. I hope today's verdict will help the family and friends of Ms. Le to continue the long process towards healing following this tragic and senseless crime," she said in a statement.

Esteban and Le grew up together in San Diego, and both moved to the Bay Area for college. It was there that they befriended Scott Marasigan. Esteban began dating Marasigan, having an on-and-off again relationship for several years. The couple eventually had a child together, while Le had a "close platonic friendship with Marasigan."

Esteban grew jealous and convinced that Le was having an affair with Marasigan. In the months leading up to Le's murder, Esteban's hatred toward Le intensified, according to the DA. Marasigan recorded multiple "chilling conversations" he had with Esteban, including one in November 2010 where she threatened Marasigan and Le, saying "You deserve to die foryour lies, as does she."

Giselle Esteban

Esteban stalked Le, going to great lengths to track her down. She finally caught up with her on the evening of May 27, 2011. At about 7 p.m., Le excused herself from her class at Kaiser where she was working toward becoming a nurse. She left to get something from her car and never came back.

The jury was convinced that Esteban was in the parking garage waiting to kill Le. Esteban murdered Le then drove her car to a remote location in Sunol where she dumped the body and hid it with brush.

Le's car was found the next morning, just a half-mile from where it was last seen at Kaiser Hospital. DNA analysis later confirmed the bloodstains and hair found at the scene of the crime and in the car was Le's.

About five months later, Ms. Le's decomposed body was discovered off a country road between Sunol and Pleasanton, a few days after Esteban had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Like us on Facebook

Slideshows

Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"